Water scooter



` INVENTOR.

' A. E.V slMoNs l WATER SCOOTER V 'Filed Feb. 28, 1944 July 9, 1946.

Patented July 9, 1946 i UNITED f STATES PATENT OFFICE c Y 2,403,560

WATER SCOOTER August E. Simons, Detroit, Mich. Application February 28, 1944, Serial No. 524,184

2 Claims.

My invention relates to water scooters, and its principal object is to provide a light, simple, safe, and easily portable craft adapted for use both by adults and children upon lakes, rivers and ponds and in amusement parks and other places where aquatic amusements are possible.

A further object of my invention is to provide a craft of the character referred to which is provided with pedal-operated propelling means.

A still further object is to provide a structure of this type which is adapted for various games and amusement stunts as well as for sun-tan purposes, and which can be manufactured cheaply by modern production methods so as to bring it within reach of all classes of out-door enthusiasts.

With these and other objects in view, I will new describe a preferred embodiment of my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the scooter and propelling means.

, Figure 2 is a plan view.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Figure l showing the construction of the body or hull.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation showing further details of the propelling means.

Figure 5 is a similar elevation showing a pair of paddle wheels separately operated.

Like characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing, is the body or hull, having wood side members Il, a flat bottom of plywood I2, curved as shown in Figure l, and a concave deck i3 as shown in Figures 1 and 3, while along the sides are a pair of gunwale members I4 of circular cross section which afford a convenient hand-hold throughout the length on the body. Due to the concave character of the deck I3, it is possible for the operator to maintain a recumbent position for long periods without undue fatigue, and a mat or rug I 5 attached to the deck further softens its impact upon the body of the operator, who for the most part is clad in a bathing suit only.

To the underside of the body, at the rear end, is a base member 2, preferably of wood, upon which is carried the propelling mechanism. This mechanism comprises a tending bearing brackets 2I, secured to the base, in which is supported a shaft 22 to the central hub 23 of which are secured radially disposed vanes or paddles 24 preferably curved as shown in Fig- Dair of downwardly exl ure 1. To the extreme rear of the base 2, as at 3, are pivoted the propelling levers 3|, which have at their upper ends relatively wide members 32 adapted to be operated by the hands or the feet of the operator, while to their lower ends, as at 33, are hinged rods or bars 4 which extend rearwardly and terminate in ratchet teeth 4I adapted to engage the teeth of ratchet wheels ft2 carried by the propeller shaft 22. Two curved springs 43, secured to the base 2, press at their central portions against the corresponding levers 3l, while their extreme ends press downwardly upon the rods 4 so as to keep their respective ratchet teeth in engagement with the wheels 42 during the forward stroke while allowing them to slip thereupon during the return stroke. Thus by alternately pressing upon the members 32 the rods engaging the wheels cause the paddles to rotate, propelling the hull with a substantially continuous motion, and -on the levers being released they are carried backwards by the springs 43 so as to take a fresh hold upon the ratchet wheels ready for another forward impulse.

Figure 5 illustrates a modification in which two separate paddle wheels are employed. In this modication the wheels 24 are rotatable about a rlXed shaft 22 and each wheel has a ratchet wheel 42 arranged in driving relation with it. The shaft 22 4has an additional support 5 depending from the member 2.

It will be observed from the foregoing description and by reference to the drawing that I have provided a light, cheap, and practically unsink able craft which can be operated in various ways to meet any aquatic sports requirements, and while I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my said invention, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the same pertains that various modifications in detail may be made to suit any particular or peculiar requirement without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in ap pended claims. For example, any convenient steering means may be added to increase the manoeuverability of the craft, for which purpose the paddle wheel may be formed in two parts, independently operated so that by rotating only one of these parts continuously the scooter may be caused to travel in a circular path.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters .Patent the United States is:

1. A Water craft body having a shaft suspended therebelow, a paddle wheel rotatable upon said shaft, a ratchet Wheel arranged in driving relation with said paddle wheel, a pedal operated 1e ver pivoted to said body, and a bar connected to said lever and having teeth adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet wheel and rotate the same when moved in one direction and to slip freely thereupon when moved in the opposite direction, there being resilient means for moving said bar and said lever in the said opposite direction and for yeldingly holding said bar and said ratchet Wheel in engagement.

2. A Water craft body having a shaft suspended therebelow, a pair of paddle wheels rotatable upon said shaft, a pair of ratchet wheels each arranged in driving relation with one of said paddle Wheels, a pair of pedal levers pivcted to said body and a bar connected to each of said levers having ratchet teeth adapted to engage the teeth of its respective ratchet wheel and to rotate the same when moved in one direction and to slip freely thereupon when moved in the opposite direction, there being resilient means for moving said bars and Said levers in the said opposite direction and for yieldingly holding said bars and said ratchet wheels in engagement.

AUGUST E. SIMONS. 

